Saints of the kazakh steppe: traditions and continuity

Research article

Abstract

This article investigates the phenomenon of saints (auliye), their significance and role in Kazakh culture. As the theoretical base, the philosophy of culture is used, where auliye are considered one of the important factors for shaping intellectual traditions of the Kazakh Steppe. This article covers the topic of social and cultural roles of auliye and their significance for cultural memory, using a large empirical data gathered in Turkestan. Also the article analyses the possible reasons of forgetting, displacing and revitalisation in the socio-political context of events that happened in the XX century. The complex problems of mutual impact between Islam and nomadic Turks’ worldview, and  conditions under which the knowledge of auliye was replaced, are discussed. It is stated that there has been a continuing research for philosophical foundations for the role of sacred and religious characteristics of cultural memory, since gaining Independence. By exploring the origins of saints (auliye) from cultural regions of Turkestan, the analysis of the network features of distribution is given. The article demonstrates how examined auliye were interconnected with other other, and what kind of role their activities played in forming intellectual, including religious, traditions of this region. In this context, a retrospective analysis of auliye’s biographies discloses the sacred geography phenomenon of Kazakhstan.